Performing regular inspections will help lengthen the life of your gearbox and prevent any structural malfunctions. Proper gearbox maintenance and repair saves energy, money, and potential injury or damage to other machinery and employees. The following are a few techniques for inspecting a gearbox for needed repairs, including inspections of shaft seals, inspection ports, and gear teeth.
Conduct a complete walkaround inspection before opening the gearbox’s inspection port to find any signs of scorching, erosion, pollution, or oil leaks. Gauge the tightening force of all mechanical attachments that bear weight. Try to find any indication of motion like cracked paint or deterioration at structural ports. These are all indicators that your gearbox needs repair services.
The breather should be situated in a low-pressure area and be clean of pollutants. This part of the gearbox should also have a screen and drying agent applied to limit the entry of dirt or water.
Check for oil spills around the gearbox shaft seals. If you see any indications of oil seepage, the seals are likely permitting the entry of dirt and water. The seals will need to be repaired in order to stop dirt from getting through.
Look at the cover of the inspection port to see if the bolts are sufficiently tight and the cover adequately sealed. You can also see whether there is oil spewing out of this section. Inspecting this portion of your gearbox is considered to be part of preventive maintenance. Issues detected and repaired early on can help to protect against expensive failures in the future.
Gauge gear endplay with a dial indicator after blocking the gear to stop it from rotating. To determine the level of shaft play, affix your indicator to the end of the shaft while moving it parallel to the axis. This process most often demands the use of a ball screw with a central shaft bearing. The bearing must allow for pulling and pushing of the shaft while it rotates to properly position the roller bearings.
It is a good idea to inspect the contact patterns of the gear teeth, as they will often reveal any misalignments in the gear mesh. This inspection should be executed while engaging the gearbox to identify any asymmetry before it results in the need for extensive repair. Examinations need to be done routinely to detect any contact pattern misalignments due to issues like bearing malfunctions.
At Amarillo Gear Service, we work with our clients to ensure their industrial gearboxes remain operational for the duration of their intended lifespan. We ensure that every unit we refurbish and repair leaves our facilities in near-new condition. If we notice potential causes of failure during the repair stage, we notify clients immediately. The result is that many of our industrial gearboxes perform better once they are returned and are less prone to damage and further problems.
Amarillo Gear Service is a division of Amarillo Gear Company, which has been in continuous operation since 1917. The name “Amarillo” has become a global benchmark for quality gears and drives that companies rely upon. For more information, give us a call at (806) 622-1273. You can also Contact Us via email and view the regions we service. We will be glad to tell you more about the quality workmanship we can bring to the repair or renewal of your gearbox.
